The Gilbert Christian Knights will square off against the Pusch Ridge Christian Academy Lions at 6:00 p.m. on Friday.
Gilbert Christian is headed into the game having just suffered their closest defeat since December 3, 2024 on Saturday. They fell just short of Deer Valley by a score of 41-39. The contest marked the Knights' lowest-scoring matchup so far this season.
Even though the team lost, they still had their share of impressive performances. One of the best came from Adi Bailie, who dropped a double-double with 16 points and 12 boards. Another player making a difference was Tylee Fox, who almost dropped a double-double with nine points and nine rebounds.
Meanwhile, Pusch Ridge Christian Academy strolled into their game on Thursday with a perfect record and they left with the same. They simply couldn't be stopped as they easily beat Amphitheater 52-24.
Pusch Ridge Christian Academy's win came from a few key players Gilbert Christian will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Noelle Sunukjian, who posted five points in addition to 14 steals and six boards. Those 14 steals gave her a new career-high. Nicole NJoroge was another key player, dropping a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds.
Pusch Ridge Christian Academy smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 14 offensive rebounds. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least 11 offensive boards in 11 consecutive games dating back to last season.
Pusch Ridge Christian Academy's record is now 3-0. As for Gilbert Christian, their loss ended a six-game streak of wins at home dating back to last season and dropped them to 3-2.
Rebounding is likely to be a big factor in this contest: Gilbert Christian has been crashing the boards this season, having averaged 37.8 boards per game. However, it's not like Pusch Ridge Christian Academy struggles in that department as they've been averaging 34.7 rebounds. With both teams battling to corral missed shots, we'll see if one team can grab an edge.
Gilbert Christian came up short against Pusch Ridge Christian Academy in their previous meeting back in December of 2024, falling 38-33. Can the Knights avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
